Getting the best from your Potato Barrel is easy if you follow this simple advice:

Buying Your Seed Potatoes
There are literally dozens of different varieties, but you’ll probably want to grow delicious early potatoes – these will be marked as ‘early’ on the pack and are best bought at the start of the year (January / February time).
Once you’ve got your seed potatoes they need to be ‘chitted’ – this sounds technical but is very straight forward. Simply place the potatoes – without any compost – in a seed tray or egg box – in a cool, light place out of direct sunlight. After about two weeks the potatoes should have shoots growing out of them approximately 1” long – the potatoes are now ready to plant.

Selecting The Best Place For You Potato Barrel
Growing your potatoes in a tub gives you the advantage that you can move the barrel throughout the growing process to get the best results. For really early potatoes, keep the barrel indoors – in a shed or greenhouse – for the first 2-3 weeks after planting. Or, if this isn’t possible, cover the barrel with clear polythene after planting your potatoes to protect the shoots from frost and bring them on earlier. Ideally, the permanent place for your potato barrel should be in a sheltered, sunny position.